Chapter Seventy-Four: Lethal Weapon!

"Surely you still remember what happened during the last battle, when we increased the amount of radium and many soldiers, unable to control the recoil, fell from the fortress?" Ren Boyuan raised a finger, nudging his gold-rimmed glasses.

"So, according to you, recoil is the biggest problem we face? Is that what you mean?" Chu Xiao probed.

Ren Boyuan nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Chu Xiao suddenly felt the urge to smoke, but after glancing at Wang Lulu, he could only sigh deeply.

"Recoil is indeed a serious problem! Is there really no way to resolve it with handles or anything like that?"

"No way! The force is simply too great—the recoil is enormous!" Ren Boyuan dismissed the idea outright.

"What if we increase the weapon’s own weight and fix it to the fortress? Would that work?" Chu Xiao suggested, drawing from his previous life’s combat experience.

"Let me calculate that! Give me a moment!" Ren Boyuan slapped his forehead, chiding himself for his oversight. He'd been so focused on improving the design that he hadn’t thought of simply increasing the weight and fixing the weapon in place.

But if they did that, they could just return to the original design.

"Major General Chu, didn't you insist on a lighter weapon before, for ease of movement? If we revert to a heavier version, what about mobility?" Ren Boyuan asked quietly.

Chu Xiao was momentarily taken aback.

"In theory, you're absolutely right. At the time, I never expected Pluto's firepower to be so overwhelming. We performed so well in the early stages that now he’s targeting us specifically. We have no choice but to change our strategy."

"Besides the weapon’s weight, I hope we can enhance its threat—ideally, a single shot that, even if it lands on the ground, inflicts widespread damage. That’s the level I want, enough to change Kyushu’s strategic position!"

Chu Xiao took a sip of water and continued, "The previous multi-directional firing mode lacked sufficient power. It was effective against the Firebirds, but still inadequate against the tower cannons. For now, we must focus on increasing the weapon's destructive capacity. Whether it’s the laser cannon or the 'Solar Fire,' both are urgently needed!"

"This is Kyushu’s chance for survival!" Chu Xiao stared intently into Ren Boyuan’s eyes, filled with bitter resolve.

Ren Boyuan was stunned for a moment, then replied without hesitation, "Understood! Rest assured, we will complete this task!"

"Hua Bo, do you have any thoughts?" Ren Boyuan turned to Hua Bo.

Hua Bo had been standing quietly nearby, unnoticed by Chu Xiao, her gaze fixed on Ren Boyuan.

Hua Bo hadn't expected Ren Boyuan to suddenly direct the conversation to her.

"I believe there’s room for improvement in both the utilization rate of radium and solar energy. At present, the efficiency for both is only about ninety percent."

"So, focusing on this area could significantly boost our firepower," said Hua Bo, a geologist deeply familiar with radium.

"Agreed! One hundred percent efficiency would be ideal. Dr. Ren, do you think you can achieve that?"

"I believe so! With further modifications to the energy converter, it should be possible."

"Good. Now we have our main direction—weapon weight, stabilization, and energy utilization. If we discover anything new, we can always add improvements to the firing mechanism."

"A thirty-meter-high tower cannon, densely packed before the Mingzhu City fortress—if our weapons lack sufficient destructive force, we’ll be at a disadvantage, just like today."

"Pluto could return at any time, and his next assault will only be fiercer. We must strike first, so we are not caught off guard as we were today," Chu Xiao declared, enunciating each word with determination.

Ren Boyuan and the others were momentarily stunned, realizing more clearly than ever the gravity of their mission.

They were not just researchers—they bore the fate of the nation and the safety of Kyushu on their shoulders.

"Don’t worry—we’ll have results soon!" Ren Boyuan immediately bent over his drafting table. "The firepower will be enough! This time, we’ll build a weapon that can penetrate forty meters of titanium alloy—superior to the tower cannon!"

"We’ll need your help to acquire some experimental materials," Ren Boyuan said without looking up from his blueprints.

Hua Bo understood—Ren Boyuan was entering one of his frenzied phases again.

Chu Xiao’s speech had thoroughly roused his spirit.

Chu Xiao, instead of resting, stayed to work with the team—helping however he could.

A forty-meter-thick titanium alloy plate would need to be commissioned immediately, and the critical components would require overtime work to produce; otherwise, further testing would be impossible.

By the time Chu Xiao finished handling these matters, it was already late into the night.

Ren Boyuan and his team were still sketching diagrams and discussing plans.

"This point won’t work—it needs to be changed!"

"This won’t do either! With this design, the impact force is too great, it’ll shatter!"

…

Wang Lulu watched them all with a heavy heart.

"You should go rest, you’re injured!"

"What time is it?" Chu Xiao had lost track amid the busyness.

Wang Lulu glanced at her watch. "It’s three in the morning. You need to recuperate from your injuries! You can come back first thing in the morning."

"Three o’clock?" Chu Xiao’s expression barely changed. "Everyone, take a break. We’ll resume work tomorrow."

But the others merely glanced at Chu Xiao and kept working.

Time waits for no one. Perhaps after these days they could sleep soundly, but if soldiers on the front have no weapons, a single sleep may be their last.

Chu Xiao looked at Wang Lulu. "Do you understand? It’s not that I refuse to rest, but no one here is resting. When they reach their limits, they’ll rest of their own accord."

"This isn’t just work—it’s a race against time. What’s at stake are the lives of our soldiers on the battlefield."

"Lulu, you should go rest first," Chu Xiao softened his tone, realizing he’d spoken too harshly.

Wang Lulu showed no displeasure at his words. "I don’t need to rest. My job now is to take care of you and make sure you don’t collapse. You are the backbone of the entire team."

"Every decision you make determines Kyushu’s future. If something happens to you, everything will fall on the commander’s shoulders alone, and he won’t be able to carry it all."

"Besides, everyone here respects you deeply. Please go rest and heal—otherwise, how will you return to the battlefield next time?" Wang Lulu’s words were not forceful, but they came from the heart of a true Kyushu native.

Right now, Chu Xiao’s disregard for his own health would be a loss for all of Kyushu.